Directions

You will love the several estuaries in and around Karamea. They are well worth a visit. Bird life is plentiful, with over 40 bird species to spot including pied stilts, black swans, oyster catchers, blue herons, and occasionally a white heron. You can walk for miles, and follow small tidal inlets, but do check on the tide times for the day and be aware of how far the water may come in.

Birdwatchers Estuaries

Birdwatchers’ and Photographers’ Paradise!

You will love the several estuaries in and around Karamea. They are well worth a visit.  Bird life is plentiful, with over 40 bird species to spot including pied stilts, black swans, oyster catchers, blue herons, and occasionally a white heron. You can walk for miles, and follow small tidal inlets, but do check on the tide times for the day and be aware of how far the water may come in.

There are three major estuaries:

Karamea Aerodrome Lagoon a freshwater wetland which is used at high tide by birds feeding on the Karamea River estuary.

Both the Karamea-Otumahana Estuary (400 hectares) and the Oparara Estuary (110 hectares) are considered wetlands of national importance because of the large numbers and kinds of water fowl and wading birds who use them.

How Karamea got its name:

Karamea is probably a shortened form of the Maori word for speargrass which has a fragrance sought after by early Maori who came here to gather it

PS – Sandfly alert – do make sure you take a good repellent to ensure you have a nice day and those pesky little biting insects don’t.  They can be a nuisance up here, especially in the shade.